Adopted Dog and at my wits end!

810 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Elana55, Apr 27, 2009

Newbkm

Discussion Starter · Apr 27, 2009

I adopted my dog Emma about a year ago from the humane shelter at age 3. She is a boxer mix (other breed unknown) and her history is unknown. Emma is, for the most part, a wonderful dog. However she needs lots and lots of attention and if she doesn't get 'enough' we start having potty issues. She is housebroken - the only correlation I can find to these accidents is I've not been able to give her the normal amount of attention. I'm an apartment dweller so she is crated during the day and I leave her out at night. We occasionally have night accidents but the frequency is starting to increase

I'm at my wits end this week. I came home to poop and pee in the crate Thursday. We have our normal schedule for potty breaks and as of this week she will only lightly pee and won't poop at her normal times. Friday I adjusted her crate to make the living space smaller but still came home to poop in the crate. I didn't crate her over the weekend feeling she might have been in it too long and she peed both Saturday night and Sunday night on the carpet. I also stepped out Sunday for less than an hour and came home to poop and pee on the carpet. I will spend upwards of 30 minutes outside waiting for her to go to the bathroom and she wont produce so I dont think its a lack of potty breaks. These accidents only happen at night or when I am away so I don't know how I can correct it - and if she is peeing and pooping in a confined space at age 4... what else can I do?

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FourIsCompany

· #2 · Apr 27, 2009

What does the rest of her life consist of? I mean, besides being in the crate, hanging out in your apartment, and a few 30 minutes of outside time while you wait for her to eliminate each day, what is her life like?

Exercise?
Sports?
Neighborhood walks?
Fun and games?

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LeRoymydog

· #3 · Apr 27, 2009

FourIsCompany said:
What does the rest of her life consist of? I mean, besides being in the crate, hanging out in your apartment, and a few 30 minutes of outside time while you wait for her to eliminate each day, what is her life like?

Exercise?
Sports?
Neighborhood walks?
Fun and games?

I agree here. Boxers are very much family dogs and don't like to be left alone for ery long. Also, the amount of energy a Boxer has is alot (and that's even an understatement).

Let me ask you this... If you were her, would you like your life? **Just something to think about**

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Newbkm

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 27, 2009

We dont do the dog park anymore because I was attacked by another dog when with her, plus she has a tendency to be aggressive if a group of dogs approaches her. We normally take walks and I try to get her to an area where she can run around, but she has a tendency to run off and not come back when called. She does great with command work inside but outside is a whole different story. Toys, treats and praise do not motivate her; she is content just running and sniffing. She is a very independent dog and I currently do not have access to an enclosed area for her to play off leash (other than the apt). I've also had a back injury recently where my mobility is limited; therefore her mobility is currently limited.
Still this issue happens when we do get plenty of exercise and play (just not as frequently as now). I would love to get her to a place where I don't have to crate her but we haven't established that trust yet. We've worked through a lot of other issues but this one keeps sticking around so any ideas would be appreciated.

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FourIsCompany

· #5 · Apr 27, 2009

You can try getting a long line (or a rope fastened securely to her collar) that gives her some freedom to run around and get some exercise without an enclosure. She probably needs 2-3 30-minute walks per day. Every day. This kind of behavior builds up over time. For example, if I didn't take my dogs out today, they'd be fine. But after 3-4 days, I'd start seeing digging, more barking, and who knows what kind of behavior problems? Then it would take a few days of regular exercise for them to get back in the swing of being well-behaved again.

Sporadic exercise is just not going to cut it. Crating her isn't the problem. Plenty of people crate their dogs their whole lives. It's the lack of regular exercise. That's my opinion.

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Elana55

· #6 · Apr 27, 2009

Yes. I agree. This is a VERY high energy dog and she needs a LOT of exercise. This means walking. If you can't walk her, you need to hire someone who will.. and not for 30 minutes but for an hor and for at least 4 miles.

A dog that pees in the house is not housebroken. Every time she pee or poos indoors the availability of indoors as a potty area is reinforced. Go back to basics. Get the dog on a schedule and follow it. Get the dog out every 2 hours to pee during the day. Watch like a hawk. Crate her at night and for no more than 8 hours.

As to not coming when called.. this is because she has not been trained. Dogs do not generalize behavior between one place and another. Most dogs behave at home because that is where they are trained. If you want to dog to behave EVERYWHERE, you need to train in 20 different locations to get the dog to understand that your cues mean the same thing no matter where you are.

I understand you have an injury that may be limiting your mobility, it is not going to change the dog's energy level or exercise and training requirements. I was laid up for 3 weeks last year and I can tell you.. I had to find ways to occupy the dog. Training is one way. I used a clicker and this site www.clickertraining.com and taught my dog all kinds of things just to keep her brain occupied. A bored dog is not a good things.

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